EP 407 — Coach Bradley Sowder (University of the Cumberlands): NAIA Powerhouse Mindset, Double-Threshold Lessons, Culture in the NIL Era

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Ladies and gentlemen — howdy & aloha! We are HERE, you are THERE, and you’re now rockin’ with the best. We’re lacing up with Coach Bradley Sowder, Director of Cross Country & Track & Field at University of the Cumberlands—back for Round 3 on ABR. We dig into the Patriots’ rise (WXC currently top-3, MXC top-4), winning NAIA indoor/outdoor national titles (first men’s double in program history), the women’s 2025 NAIA Indoor Championship, double-threshold evolution, culture in the transfer/NIL era, and why elite athletes still choose Williamsburg…including the story behind Luca Madeo’s return and a run at the German half-marathon record.Listen / Watch Everywhere
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Coach / Program Links
• Coach: Bradley Sowder (University of the Cumberlands)
• Program site: Cumberlands XC (Men / Women) & Track & Field (Men / Women)
• Team IG: @ucpatriotsxctf (day-to-day updates, recruiting DMs
SHOW NOTES / TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Howdy & aloha intro; ABR mission to spotlight NAIA/NJCAA/D2/D3 distance programs
01:01 – Guest intro: Coach Bradley Sowder; current polls (W #3, M #4); UC Patriot pedigree
02:57 – Where to send recruits/parents/fans; @ucpatriotsxctf and SIDs doing work
03:59 – Flowers: how Coach Sowder helped launch ABR’s TF/XC run; opening doors across divisions
06:00 – Kentucky/UK years; teammates John Richardson & Chris Landers; faith & growth arc
09:23 – Fall update: depth, vibe, individual meetings, mid-season reset; coach becoming present
15:01 – Therapy, pressure, “fear of losing,” hospital scare; reframing wins/losses; leadership growth
18:42 – Delegation to staff; balance & family time; being Director and Coach
25:01 – Women’s rise without last year’s “superstars”; transfers/frosh stepping up; depth matters
27:27 – Culture with the portal/NIL: 1-year “contracts,” honesty with athletes, helping them level up
29:58 – Personal: losing an athlete vs supporting them; why relationships outlast rosters
33:36 – Keeping culture strong when top sticks leave; gratitude practice at weekly 125-athlete meeting
36:55 – From jail to graduate: why UC’s program is built on second chances & accountability
38:20 – Silver linings: when multiple athletes earn bigger scholarships—you’re doing something right
41:07 – Luca Madeo story: Raleigh Relays breakout → altitude year → returns to UC; fifth-year plan; fall target for German HM record & indoor focus (context: UC roster page) University of the Cumberlands Athletics
47:00 – Lactate-guided training: double-threshold tuning (AM vs PM lactate), European athletes bringing meters, individualization
54:41 – Benchmarks: Patriot session (tempo + Ks + 600s/400s), classic 12-8-4 x2 ladder, Michigan; last-5-weeks template
58:38 – Why fitness is built before November; don’t “win the workout/lose the week”
59:50 – Who to watch? Everyone. Multiple Conference Athletes of the Week = depth & competition
1:02:00 – Load plan to Conference & Nationals (Appalachian Challenge; Milligan, Montreat, TWC in field)
1:04:34 – Nationals site strategy: Tallahassee course demands > weather; BYU/ND film study
1:09:05 – Final Four: gratitude list; shout to Coach James; daily walk; cappuccino count
1:14:16 – Lifting vs running cycles; Boost treadmills for durability; 305 bench @ 44; old-man strength
1:21:00 – Deftones dad-daughter car rides; 90s/00s alt-metal lifeblood
1:25:49 – Shoutouts to AD Chris Kraftick & staff; UC season outlook; ABR NJ week preview

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